The next morning arrived like any other, like the past couple of days, light spilling into the shared apartment, faint clattering from the kitchen, the scent of ginger porridge wafting through the air.
Lin Fang stood in front of the mirror, adjusting the collar of his slightly outdated blazer.
He had chosen something modest but presentable.
His pants were ironed, his shoes cleaned, small things, but today felt like a first step.
He was just stepping out of his room when the kitchen filled with movement. Li Liu was there, her back facing him.
"Morning."
"Ah… Yes. Morning." A quiet greeting escaped Li Liu, her back still facing him.
Lin Fang smiled, shaking his head. "I'll be back by lunch." He said. There was a subtle nod from Li Liu.
Lin Fang didn't mind it. He knows that she is a bit shy, based on his observation over the past couple of days. He was about to exit the apartment. Just then, the door creaked open, and he saw his old classmate.
Zhi Yan had just returned from her jog.
Her black tracksuit clung to her like a second skin, damp with sweat, hugging her form.
The zipper was down halfway, her tank top underneath sticking to her curves, and her ponytail was pulled high, swaying with each step.
Lin Fang blinked. Then blinked again.
"Hey," she greeted, swiping a towel across her neck. "Morning."
He tried his best to keep his eyes locked on her face.
"Hi," he managed, offering a faint, composed smile.
Zhi Yan raised a brow, then glanced at his attire. "All dressed up this early? Where are you off to?"
"Research," Lin Fang said, clearing his throat. "I need to look into feed for avian-type monsters. Also… I'm heading to the Association. Planning to get my license as a Monster Tamer."
She stopped mid-wipe, her eyes narrowing slightly. "A what? Monster Tamer license? I thought your goal was to become a rich pet shop owner."
He chuckled dryly. "That's still the plan. But right now, I'm nothing more than a middleman. I buy from someone and sell to someone else. No real growth. It's not sustainable in the long run. I want to acquire the monster eggs through my own efforts, you know, cutting the cost to nothing, thereby increasing the revenue."
Zhi Yan's towel stilled. She frowned, her expression shifting from amusement to concern. "But… you don't have mana, Classmate Lin. You're a plainfolk."
He nodded firmly with a steady gaze on her face. "I'm willing to risk it."
She stared at him for a long moment.
Then, without a word, she glanced down the hallway, looked back at him, and said softly, "Let's go together."
"Huh?"
She didn't explain. "Just wait for a bit. I know someone. I'll introduce you to an expert."
Lin Fang blinked. "You… do?"
After a brief pause, he nodded. "Okay."
Zhi Yan gave a satisfied nod, flashed a small smile, and disappeared into her room.
Li Liu, who seemed like a silent spectator, couldn't help but glance at her room door and chuckled. "And she says they are just friends."
Meanwhile, Lin Fang stood in the hallway, heart beating just a bit faster. Maybe… It's because he was about to go outside with a girl? It's been years since he had a girlfriend, after all.
Exactly twenty minutes later, her door opened again.
This time, she had changed into something simple like clean jeans, a light blouse that fell just below her waist, and a cardigan that softened the sharpness of her athletic frame. Her hair was down now, falling around her face in soft layers, and for a moment, Lin Fang just stared at her in a daze.
She looked… she just looked like this image of a girl next door who you want to see every day.
Zhi Yan adjusted the strap of her shoulder bag and met his gaze. "Let's go?"
He forced a smile, brushing a hand through his hair. "Yeah. Let's."
"Bye, Liuliu." Zhi Yan walked outside, waving her hands without looking back.
Li Liu didn't speak about that. Only after they finally exited, she exhaled in relief. "Finally, they are gone." She put a hand on her chest. "Lin Fang is really making it hard for me to even breathe properly. Why should Yan'er's friend have such good looks? Why wasn't he like Brother Hao?"
Meanwhile, outside, the engine of Zhi Yan's four-seater convertible purred like a feline on the prowl.
Lin Fang climbed in with a faint cough, tugging at the seatbelt as he thought to himself. "It's a Cragan. Even the least model is worth 2 million credits. Just how rich is this girl…"
He didn't say anything, though. Didn't ask questions. He just sat there, one leg awkwardly crossed over the other, as Zhi Yan hit the accelerator.
They left Huaxi City behind soon after, driving past the outskirts into a greener district. The buildings thinned out. Wide roads turned into narrow ones.
Eventually, they turned onto a private road lined with peach blossom trees. At the end of the road stood a pristine villa, grand but not too fancy. White stone, bronze detailing, and the kind of peace only wealth could afford.
They stepped out of the car.
And Lin Fang, still awkward, followed Zhi Yan through the ornate gate.
The courtyard opened before them like a canvas painted in still life. Wind rustled the leaves. Birds chirped from somewhere unseen. But in the center of it all, two people were locked in combat.
One was a middle-aged woman, her salt-streaked hair tied in a high bun, movements graceful yet firm. Her eyes were steady and cold.
The other was a young man, perhaps in his twenties, lean and confident, the sleeves of his combat jacket rolled up. His hair was dyed a silver ash, similar to the woman's.
And in between them were the lightning Jaguars.
One is larger, bigger than the car Zhi Yan and Lin Fang just rode.
The other one seemed smaller and younger, but it looked quite aggressive, trying to attack the larger counterpart again and again, only to get swatted away every time.
Lin Fang's pupils narrowed without meaning to.
In his vision, faint lines shimmered.
Lightning Jaguar
Grade: Rare
Level: 46
*
Lightning Jaguar
Grade: Rare
Level: 32
His brows furrowed at those details, not the level but their grade.
"Rare?" he muttered under his breath. "And still could climb to that level?"
These beasts weren't Legendary. Not even Epic. Just Rare. And yet, the pressure they exerted was enough to make the air feel charged.
Basically, the system rates the monsters with grades such as Common, Uncommon, Rare, Epic, and Legendary.
Until now, Lin Fang only thought their potential was tied to their grade. Just looking at his own pets proves that theory. The luminous Panda is of legendary grade and has a level 50 max potential. On the other hand, Lei Fei is of Epic grade but has a level 40 max potential.
Then how come this rare grade Lightning jaguar has a better potential than his thunder eagle?
Lin Fang could only feel like there should be more to this grading system.
Meanwhile, the young man charged forward with a fist, alongside the beast. His fist is crackling with electric sparks, a very rare scene for a monster tamer.
The woman, however, jumped high in the air with her leg raised to her head. The larger Jaguar charged forward to push away the younger one.
It was at this moment, the young man caught sight of Zhi Yan by the courtyard gate. A look of surprise appeared on his face. "Yan'er?"
"Where in the hell are you looking, you brat?" The shout from the woman turned his attention, and his face paled for a bit as her kick was about to land on his face.
The sharp heel struck the man right in his forehead, crashing him to the ground with blood spurting out.
"Argh…"
But then in the next second, the wound was closed as if it didn't exist, and pain subsided, while the younger Jaguar yelped as its forehead split.
Immediately, medics, guards in sleek black uniforms, rushed in with a stretcher. The younger beast was carefully lifted, its tail twitching weakly.
Lin Fang stood silently beside Zhi Yan as both monster tamers turned toward them, waiting until both of them reached.
Zhi Yan bowed slightly, her voice soft and respectful. "Auntie Xiao."
The older woman nodded with a calm, calculating eye. "You are here." She said, her voice neutral. Then her gaze moved to Lin Fang. "Who is this?"
Zhi Yan glanced sideways. "He is a friend. He wants to register as a Monster Tamer. I came here for some advice, Auntie. After all, you are the strongest person I know."
The woman raised a brow but said nothing for a long moment. Then she spoke. "You don't have a shred of mana in you, though."
Zhi Yan nodded before Lin Fang could respond. "Yes. He doesn't."
Lin Fang took a respectful step forward and gave a short, firm bow. "Elder Xiao, I am indeed a plainfolk. But I still wish to become a Monster Tamer."
Jiang Fei, the silver-haired young man, let out a sharp laugh, hearing that. "Without mana, you want to be a tamer?"
Lin Fang didn't flinch at that. He simply raised his head and met his gaze. "I'm raising a beast already. It'll take time to grow, but one day, it'll be strong enough to protect me. I don't need mental commands to guide those I've raised with my own hands. So, I don't feel it should be a problem to become a monster tamer."
Jiang Fei stared for a second, then burst into full laughter, tossing his head back. "Hahaha! Yan'er, where did you dig up this fool?"
Zhi Yan's expression darkened at once.